The dust got settled after the IPL 2026 auctionand squads are now theoretically locked in. However, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp. The franchise, which made headlines by shattering records to acquire Shreyas Iyer for a colossal INR 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, now faces a potential nightmare: the unavailability of their captain and batting lynchpin.

Since the auction window is closed, the franchise must rely on the injury replacement protocol (signing unsold players) or the trading window to fill the void.

IPL 2026: 3 potential candidates Punjab Kings can target if Shreyas Iyer misses out

1) Mayank Agarwal

The most logical, albeit dramatic, solution to the Iyer problem is a reunion with former captain Mayank Agarwal. Having gone surprisingly unsold in the IPL 2026 auction – likely due to a high base price or a dip in T20 strike rate in the previous season – Agarwal remains one of the most experienced free agents available in the pool.

Agarwal’s recent domestic form for Karnataka has been a reminder of his class. In the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed over 400 runs, showing he still possesses the hunger to dominate attacks. For PBKS, this makes perfect sense. Agarwal understands the franchise’s culture inside out. If Iyer is out, Punjab loses not just a batter, but a captain. Agarwal can seamlessly step into the leadership group (supporting a stand-in captain or taking the armband himself) and stabilize the top order. His ability to anchor the innings allows explosive batters like Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh to play freely, mimicking the role Iyer was destined to play.

2) Yash Dhull

If the Punjab side is looking for a direct tactical swap – a right-handed No. 3 who can construct an innings – Yash Dhull is the standout candidate from the unsold list. The 2022 U-19 World Cup-winning captain has often been viewed as a red-ball specialist, which led to him being overlooked in the auction, but his recent white-ball evolution suggests he is ready for the big stage.

Dhull has looked sharp in the 2025-26 domestic season. During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played the role of the accumulator to perfection for Delhi. He has tightened his technique against pace and improved his rotation of strike against spin in the middle overs. Signing Dhull allows PBKS to maintain their batting structure. He can slot directly into the number 3 position, offering the stability required to prevent collapses – a recurring issue for the franchise. He is a low-risk, high-potential investment who is desperate to prove his critics wrong.

3) Abhinav Manohar

If the Punjab management decides that they cannot replace Iyer’s stability, they might choose to double down on aggression. Enter Abhinav Manohar. It was a shock to many when the clean-striking Karnataka batter went unsold, especially given the premium placed on Indian finishers.

PBKS often struggles with stagnation in the middle overs (7-15), a phase Iyer usually dominates through smart placement. Manohar dominates it through brute force. His ability to hit sixes from ball one makes him a dangerous asset against spin. His recent exploits in the Maharaja Trophy, where he scored at a strike rate nearing 170, prove he is in touch. Bringing him in would require a batting order shuffle – perhaps pushing an all-rounder up to No. 3 – but it would give Punjab a terrifying lower-middle order. A finishing duo of Abhinav Manohar and Marcus Stoinis could potentially win matches from impossible situations, mitigating the loss of their captain’s volume of runs with sheer impact.